Messing About In Sailboats

Poll: How has the bickering between Larry and Ernie affected the Americas Cup?

The ongoing litigation between Larry Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli drags on. This article in last Wednesday's New York Times sums up the latest fiasco. Arguably the last AC in Valencia was the best ever but since then it's just become depressing. There are so many issues at hand. Is the Deed of Gift out of date in today's sporting world or are its ambiguities and resulting arguments part of what makes the Americas Cup special? Is the DOG race a farce or is it part of what makes the Cup different? Was Larry Ellison right to challenge Alinghi or would it have been better to accept Bertarelli's plan? The big question is this: Is this very public argument irreparably undermining the Americas Cup? In the last few weeks I have heard a number of sources talk about other events taking over the mantle of premiere prize in sailing like the... Read more →

What was I thinking?

I had an idea for a group writing project. The topic is moments of blind stupidity while sailing which left you saying to yourself "What was I thinking?". Mine goes back about 5 years or so ago when I was back in the UK. We chartered a Sunfast40 (great boat!) from Sunsail in Port Solent and spent the weekend sailing round the Isle of Wight. On the Saturday, we sailed to Yarmouth, one of the truly nicest harbors in the world. On the Sunday morning we headed off West early with the tide past Hurst Castle aiming to round the Needles by breakfast. I had it in my head that it would be great to cook breakfast sailing round the Needles. I went below fired up the grill and stove and set to cooking up a classic English Breakfast - the Full Monty - eggs, bacon, toast, beans and a... Read more →

Answers to the mystery photo

Blur.se posted this photo. I received some interesting suggestions on what it might be. Not sure I am convinced about any of them. "Looks like someone glued on a camera mount to their bow." "fish finder transducer." "it's Joe Rouse's secret weapon for catching fish." "something electromagnetic, stuck on with epoxy putty. Since it's above the water line, it wouldn't have anything to to with fish-finding or other underwater soundings. My initial thought was something having to do with keeping the anchor from swinging around..." "i think is a earthing cable for lightening strikes as the tall aluminium mast are great electical conductors," Read more →

Can anyone translate this Morse Code?

Yachting Monthly tweeted it today: .... .- .--. .--. -.-- / -... .. .-. - .... -.. .- -.-- / ... .- -- ..- . .-.. / -- --- .-. ... . Read more →

Anyone know what this is?

Re-posting this as the debate over what this is rages on. The opinions are wide-ranging. It was posted on the Swedish site Blur.se Read more →